The goal of affect regulation came to the forefront of therapeutic wisdom in the mid-1990’s, primarily through the work of the neuroscientist, Allan Schore.  In his writing, he advocated that any effective psychotherapy had to address the dysregulated emotions that are stored in the right hemisphere of the brain.  Other researchers and experts (i.e., Daniel Siegel, Diana Fosha, Pat Ogden, Peter Fonagy, Marion Solomon and Stan Tatkin) translated this dictum into techniques such as mindfulness and mentalization, in which the therapist enters the patient’s experience to calm that unruly right brain with left-brain understanding.

Becoming an expert in the treatment of eating disorders takes time. Scroll through any Psychology Today professional listing, and chances are you find a number of clinicians who seem to “specialize” in almost every disorder listed in the DSM-5. While I believe that everyone should be trained initially as a generalist, with exposure to as many therapeutic modalities and clinical populations as possible, it is also important as social workers to make sure that you are practicing within your scope of expertise and knowledge. As a Faculty and Supervisor, I often remind my students, that experience does not always equal expertise. Someone can attend a training on a treatment modality or specific diagnosis, and while that imparts some knowledge and experience, it does not make one an expert. Most complex mental health issues are best treated by a clinician who has specific knowledge, expertise, and practice treating them, and eating disorders in particular are a cluster of syndromes that necessitate specific and advanced training in order to be providing standard of care. Consider this, if you needed an operation, would you choose the surgeon who has operated on cases like yours a handful of times, or the surgeon who has spent the better part of their career understanding, treating, and operating on conditions like yours and is up to date on the most recent protocols? 

The emotional triggers that spark conflicts between intimate partners are well-known:  he says he’s going out with friends from work, his husband feels rejected, his partner gets angry; she asks for more time to talk, her husband gets angry and defensive, she feels guilty; she tells her wife she’s disappointed in her, her wife bursts into tears, her partner tells her she’s overreacting.  One partner’s action triggers an emotion in the other partner, which automatically evokes a predictable and patterned emotional response from the original actor.  I have repeatedly written about this cornerstone concept of Neurodynamic Couples Therapy–mutual emotional triggers are a natural, inevitable, and useful aspect of couple relationships.

As we begin 2021, let’s allow ourselves new opportunities for personal and professional growth. Self care is now a basic necessity so we may continue to serve others.

The American Board of Clinical Social Work (ABCSW) is excited to announce the release of our new, redesigned website! Take a look around at www.abcsw.org and let us know what you think.

Eating Disorders are life threatening mental illnesses, whose behaviors offer short term and relatively quick relief from distress. Eating Disorders are often mischaracterized, misunderstood, and can be easily missed by clinicians due to lack of appropriate training and education. Eating disorders are illnesses associated with severe disturbances in eating behaviors, as well as related thoughts and emotions. There may also be symptoms of preoccupation with food, and body weight and shape.

Therapists who are helping couples build an integrated relationship are committed to fostering curiosity in both partners.  Painful, repetitive, circular conflicts are interpreted as invitations to metabolize unintegrated feelings–not as differences to be negotiated and resolved.  Partners are encouraged to ask themselves, “Why is this argument bothering me this particular way at this particular moment?”

We are excited to announce our new name is the American Board of Clinical Social Work (ABCSW). The Board of Directors felt this name and logo best reflects our mission, purpose and the Board Certified Diplomate in Clinical Social Work (BCD) program.